Foot treating device



y 1962 P. N. NELSON 3,035,570

FOOT TREATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6 INVENTOR:

May 22, 1962 P. N. NELSON 3,035,570

FOOT TREATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR:

Peffiz/l NNelsow Mai ll/74d Em E W w WN May 22, 1962 P. N. NELSON 3,035,570

FOOT TREATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 77 64 INVENTOR:

Perm/6i N Nelson United States Patent 3,035,570 FOOT TREATING DEVICE Permil N. Nelson, Galesburg, 111., assignor to Lynn H. Ewing, Rock Island, Ill. Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 50,897 13 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention is directed to a device incorporating cooperative mechanisms providing areas of support for the feet and to induce certain predetermined motions and/or exercising manipulations to treat a persons feet and legs to alleviate tiredness, soreness and lack of proper circulation of the blood to and from the feet.

More specifically, the invention provides a device having oscillating units which act upon a persons feet when placed in contact with such units to induce relaxation and comfort in an invigorating fashion to overcome fatigue and tiredness caused by the excessive use of the feet.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a device that presents oscillating units for treating the feet through forced motions and manipulations in a manher to loosen tightened muscles and to promote or restore good blood circulation to alleviate tired feet and legs whereby to fully relax an individual under such treatment.

Another object is to provide a swinging oscillating foot supporting platform to receive one or both feet for lateral oscillating motion in a horizontal plane and about vertioal axes approximately coincident in a plane traversing the angle locations to thereby loosen the foot, ankle and leg muscles to the extent that the treatment is carried into the legs so as to be substantially effective from the hips down.

A still further object is to provide an oscillating roller to support one or both feet for fore and aft motion over a predetermined arc to bend the foot or feet relatively to the leg in a vertical plane to loosen up tired muscle and joints for promoting relaxation and personal comfort.

Other objects relate to the cooperative mechanisms employed to activate the device and to certain novel details of construction. Such other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear in or become evident from the following detailed description of an exemplary construction hav ing reference to the acompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot treating device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the device as seen from the right in FIG. 2, certain parts being broken away to show constructional details;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken longitudinally of the device substantially in the plane indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the principal motor drive mechanism;

FIG. 6 is another fragmentary plan view of the oscillating mechanism of the platform drive means to show certain details thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating a modified form of the invention by providing a variation in the particular drive means employed to operate the foot treating mechanisms;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view diagrammatically illustrating a modified construction of a foot treating device wherein a simple motor is employed as the power source while belt and ulley drives are provided to obtain selected speed reduction drives from the motor to actuate the foot treating mechanisms and under given timed oscillations;

Patented May 22, 1962 FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the drive means shown in FIG. 8 to further diagrammatically show the general arrangement of the coacting mechanisms devised to drive the foot treating units employed; and

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the manual belt tightening means herein used to selectively drive and operate the roller or the oscillating platform as desired by causing one or the other of the belt drives to actuate the connected foot treating units.

The present invention establishes a foot treating device with which an individual can easily and with little effort exercise the feet, ankles and legs to free up stiif joints, promote better circulation, and to generally cause relaxation and relief after fatigue that has been brought about by the excessive or hard use of the feet. With a device of this character, certain motions are developed to move the feet in given relations and forcibly so according to the developed action or actions created by the machine.

The device generally comprises a box structure or housing 1 supporting an oscillating roller 2 and a swingable oscillating platform 3 at opposite ends, both oscillating means being exposed and available for foot treatment.

A single power means is provided comprising a gearmotor 4 as a single unit having a combined motor 5 and driven gear reduction assembly 6 driving a shaft 7 that extends out of the gear assembly 6. Suitable rotary means such as a disc 8 is secured to shaft 7, and a drive pin 9 is eccentrically carried on the disc 8 in relation to the axis of shaft 7, establishing a crank means for driving both of the oscillating units as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Roller 2 is rockably supported by a suitably attached shaft 10 extending in supported relation through the side walls 11 and 12 of the housing 1. A crank arm 13 has a base 14 secured to the periphery of roller 2, and a link 15 is connected by pin 16 through one of the holes 17 in arm 13. The other end of arm 15 is connected with pin 9 of the motor drive means so that the rotation of motor shaft 7 causes a predetermined rotary oscillation of roller 2 about its axis and on shaft 10.

Thus, by placing one or both feet upon the roller under foot arch contact with the roller, the foot or feet rockably move in a vertical plane to exercise the ankle and leg in a fore and aft joint moving fashion under the limited oscillation of the roller induced by the gearmotor and connected linkage described.

In addition, roller 2 is covered with a suitable exteriorly ribbed resilient cover 18 for better grip on the feet. And a resilient metal shield 19 is connected and mounted upon the top wall 20 of the housing 1 and depends in a curved manner toward the roller as at 21 terminating in a reverse curve 22 disposed in spaced but circumferential fashion with respect to the roller. Shield 19 provides a flexible guard to prevent the foot, socks or shoe parts from being pinched or caught behind the roller under certain conditions of use or operation.

As further shown in FIG. 4, a second link 23 is also connected for activation upon pin 9 of the disc 8, link 23 being downcurved for clearance purposes and connected by a pin 24 with the free end of an arm 25 through one of the openings 26 in arm 25.

Arm 25 is secured to a side of the upright stub shaft 27 that is confined within a sleeve bearing 28 mounted into the base 29 of housing 1, a ball 30 being used in sleeve 28 to support the stub shaft in a minimum frictional relationship as shown in FIG. 4. Sleeve 28 is annularly slotted at 31 to permit angular swinging of the arm 25 under the action of link 23.

Platform 3 also carries a stub shaft 32 for sleeve entry and bearing guidance, the shaft 32 having a slot 33 at its lower end for releasable connection with a mating key prong 34 formed upon the upper end of stub shaft 27. The free or swingable end 35 of platform 3 rides upon suitable spaced orientation rollers 36 and 37 carried upon housing top 38.

It should be noted that shafts 27-62 are operative upon a common axis that lies between the dual feet positions on platform 3 and approximately in a transverse plane aligned with the ankle positions of the users legs. Thus the normal action of the oscillating platform Will provide a horizontal oscillation to one or both feet, swinging the feet about vertical axes very closely related to the respective leg positions of the. user.

If the platform 3 is not wanted, it may be lifted off of the sleeve and orientation rollers. if desired, a cam and arm arrangement 39 may be employed to merely lift and hold the platform in a position to disconnect shafts 27-32 as may readily be understood from PEG. 4.

Platform 3 provides pockets 4!) and 41 for the feet, outlined by side rails 42 and 43, a central rail 44 and two heel end guards 45 and 46. Each platform pocket is provided with exteriorly ribbed resilient covers 47 and 48 to aid in orienting one or both feet in the platform pockets and to help in manipulating the feet directly and bodily with the motions of the platform.

While other selected speeds and oscillations are possible, the drive has been geared and timed for about 125 complete oscillations per minute. of the. roller 2 and platform 3. The pin and hole means at arm 13 can change the angular amplitude of the roller motion, While the pin and hole means at arm 25 can do the same for the platform 3. Roller 2 is made to oscillate about 1 /2" each way on a 6 inch diameter roller and the same proportional angular oscillation is transmitted to the platform 3 for a general treatment setup or arrangement.

It is to be understood that both feet may be treated upon the roller, or both feet may be placed upon the platform for treatment. It is also possible to place one foot on the roller and the other foot on the platform, or vice versa, with all treatments normally being conducted while the person being treated is seated upon a chair subjecting his or her feet and legs to the treatment of the machine. The roller provides the foot motion about a horizontal axis, While the platform gives a foot motion about a vertical axis.

As another alternative variation in the drive arrangement to the foot treating mechanisms, FIG. 7 illustrates the use of a longer drive link 23a joining with the pin 16 to actuate arm 25 that oscillates the upright stub shaft 27 to drive the platform 3.

Another modified device is shown in FIGS. 8 to wherein a conventional motor is employed for selectively driving the foot treating mechanisms through belt and pulley speed reduction means.

In the modified construction of FIGS. 8 to 10, a cabinet 50 is provided to house the mechanismn that drive the oscillatory roller 51 rockably about its axis and to horizontally oscillate the foot moving platform 52, both of which units are well shown and explained in connection with the initially described form of machine shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

A conventional motor 53 is mounted on the floor of the cabinet 56 and the motor drive shaft 54 is connected to drive pulleys 55 and 56, the former carrying a normally loose belt 57 that encircles pulley 58. Pulley 58 is joined to a second pulley 59, and both 58 and 59 are loosely journalled on a shaft 64 supported by a suitable bearing 61 mounted in the cabinet 50. A second tight belt 62 on pulley 59 connects with .a pulley 63 loosely journalled on shaft 64 supported by a bearing 65 also mounted in the cabinet 56. Pulley 63 has a crank pin 66 thereon made to actuate a link 67 that connects at 68 with arm 69 that is secured to the vertical stub shaft 70 which drives the second shaft 71 through the tongue and groove means 72, shaft 71 being attached to oscillate the platform 52 about the axis of the dual shafts. The extended portion of platform 52 rests upon and rides freely on one or more bearing balls such as 73 shown in FIG. 8.

A second drive is employed through a normally loose belt 74 from pulley 56 to encircle pulley 75 which has a connected pulley 76, both 75 and 76 being freely jour nalled upon shaft 64. The drive is continued through a tight belt 77 to pulley 78 that is freely journalled on shaft 60. A crank pin 79 is provided on the face of pulley 78 to connect with one end of a link 80 that has its other end connected with arm 81 that is secured to the roller 51.

The drives to the roller 51 and to the platform 52 are established by an idler roller carrying bracket 82. This racket S2 is rockably supported upon a stub shaft 83 mounted through the cabinet wall 84, and a suitable handle 35, located exteriorly of the cabinet, provides a means for rocking bracket 82 into selected positions about the axis of shaft 83.

Bracket 82 carries two idler rollers 86 and 87 that occupy positions for forcefully engaging belts 57 or 74 respectively according to the direction of rotation of shaft 83 by handle 85. Thus While belts 57 and 74 are normally loosely situated in non-drive relation, tighten ing of either belt by the idler rollers 86 or 87 will cause the motor to drive through its pulleys 55 or 56 to the complementary pulley serving the extended loops or bights of the belts 57 or 74.

FIG. 10 shows a pair of releasable latches or detents 88 and 89 that would serve to engage and to hold a projection or like member 90 forming a part of the op erating handle 85. This kind of an arrangement would hold either idler 86 or 87 in tight engagement with its cooperative drive belt 57 or 74 to insure proper driving transmission from the motor 53 to either of the foot treating units 51 or 52. Release of the handle unit into a neutral position as seen in FIG. 10 would permit belts 57 and 74 to resume their loose and inactive driving relations as may be well understood by those skilled in the art. Obviously, two brackets could be employed to carry the idler rollers independently so that either one or both foot units could be independently or simultaneously actuated.

The foregoing description relates to the exemplary arrangements of foot treating devices which may obviously be modified within the inventive concept as defined within the breadth and scope of the language hereinafter appearing in the appended claimed subject matter.

What I claim is:

1. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a platform providing a first foot rest to support one or both feet, a second supporting member providing a second foot rest to support one or both feet, and drive mechanism connected to oscillate said first foot rest in one plane of operation to actuate the feet in said plane and connected to oscillate said second foot rest to manipulate the feet for motion in another plane of operation.

2. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a first foot orientation means having a supporting surface for the accommodation of one or both feet, a second foot orientation means having another supporting surface for the accommodation of one or both feet, and cooperativedrive mechanism connected with both of the foot orientation means to oscillate said means, one of said means being mounted for actuation about a vertical axis to swing the feet back and forth relative to the leg and the other of said means being mounted for actuation about a horizontal axis to cause said feet to swing up and down relative to the legs.

3. In a foot treating device comprising, in combination, a platform providing supporting means to receive one or both feet freely and flatly thereon for treatment, a roller providing means to support one or both feet freely upon the curved surface thereof for treatment and actuating mechanism connected to oscillate bothsaid platform and roller through predetermined arcs of operation, said platform being mounted for oscillation in a horizontal plane to manipulate the feet about vertical reference axes, and said roller being mounted for oscillation relative to a vertical reference plane to manipulate the feet about horizontal reference axes.

4. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a first foot rest to support one or both feet, a second foot rest to support one or both feet, and drive mechanism to oscillate said first foot rest in one plane of operation and to oscillate said second foot rest in another plane of operation, said first foot rest having elevated guide members thereon to retain the feet thereon and to cause said feet to follow the movements of said first foot rest and laterally in said one plane of operation, and said second foot rest providing an upper curved surface to support the feet freely thereon and under the arches of the feet and to cause said feet to follow the movement of said second foot rest in a fore and aft pitching motion.

5. In a foot treating device as set forth and defined in claim 4, wherein said foot rests are both provided with frictional surface covers to provide feet gripping means thereon for foot contact as an aid in holding the feet in contact with the oscillatory actions of said foot rests to follow the motions of such foot rests.

6. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a first foot rest to freely support one or both feet, a second foot rest to freely support one or both feet, :and drive mechanism connected to oscillate said first foot rest in a given plane of operation and connected to oscillate said second foot rest in a different independent plane of operation, said drive mechanism including separable means to permit bodily removal of one of said foot rests from said drive, and operative means to shift said one foot rest into a position separated from said drive mechanism.

7. In a foot treating device, a platform to support one or both feet thereon, and mechanism to oscillate said platform in a lateral plane to manipulate the feet in substantially equal arcs in like directions about the upright locations of the legs comprising a stub shaft at one end of the platform connected intermediate the normal foot heel locations on said platform, a fixed sleeve to receive said stub shaft, a drive shaft in said sleeve, crank and arm means connected to oscillate said drive shaft, and releasable separable drive elements on the joining ends of said shafts to permit removal of said platform into a non-drive location.

8. In a foot treating device, a housing, a roller on said housing to support one or both feet thereon, and mechanism to oscillate said roller to manipulate the feet, said roller being flanked by housing walls, one Wall terminating below the horizontal diametral portion of said roller and the other wall being elevated and spaced therefrom remotely outwardly from the surface of the roller in a plane substantially tangentially related to the upper foot supporting area of said roller to provide a clearance area to accommodate the rocking feet, and a shield supported to span the gap between the roller and said other remote elevated wall, said shield being resilient and providing guard means, said shield being connected with said other wall and depending therefrom into a location closely flanking a curved surface portion of said roller to prevent a foot or footwear from becoming caught behind the oscillating roller and to guard against foot or toe pinching under certain conditions of operation.

9. A foot treating device comprising, in combination,

a first foot orientation means for the accommodation of one or both feet, a second foot orientation means for the accommodation of one or both feet, and cooperative drive mechanism connected with both of the foot orientation means to oscillate said means, one of said means being mounted for actuation about a vertical axis to manipulate the feet about the locations of the legs, and the other of said means being mounted for actuation about a horizontal axis to manipulate the feet in a vertical rocking fashion upwardly and downwardly with respect to the legs, said cooperative drive means each including adjustable connections to each of said foot orientation means whereby to individually and selectively permit the user to vary the amplitudes of the oscillations of each of said means to vary the manipulations of the feet to suit the conditions of the user.

10. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed platform providing a first foot rest to freely support one or both feet flatly thereon, a circularly surfaced member providing a rounded surface area as a second foot rest to freely support one or both feet thereon, and drive mechanism connected to oscillate said first foot rest in the plane of operation of the platform and connected to oscillate said second foot rest in another plane of operation about another predetermined axis of operation, said drive mechanism comprising a motor having gear reduction means, a crank unit driven by said gear reduction means, and link mechanisms connected to individually drive each of the foot rests in their respective planes of operation, said link mechanisms being connected with and actuated by said crank unit.

11. A foot treating device comprising, in combination, a first foot rest to support one or both feet, a second foot rest to support one or both feet, and drive mechanism to oscillate said first foot rest in one plane of operation and to oscillate said second foot rest in another plane of operation, said drive mecham'sm comprising a belt and pulley drive means connected between the motor and one of the foot rests, a belt and pulley means connected between said motor and the other of said foot rests, and selectively operable apparatus to cause power transmission from the motor through one or the other of said belt and pulley means.

12. In a foot treating device of the character set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said belt and pulley means include one loosely situated belt normally rendered inactive for driving in its loose condition, and wherein control means are provided to tighten one or the other of said loose belts to induce active power transmission through the particular belt and pulley means that includes such tightened belt.

13. In a device of the character set forth and defined in claim 12, wherein said control means comprises a bracket carrying idlers arranged for engaging one or the other of said loose belts respectively to cause the drive to take the path through the belt and pulley means including such tightened belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,428 Moshier Mar. 26, 1946 2,513,197 Moshier June 27, 1950 2,521,874 Runstedler Sept. 12, 1950 2,637,319 Bruene May 5, 1953 2,815,020 Barkschat Dec. 3, 1957 

